Cavalier Bremworth

The Cavalier Corporation is one of New Zealand''s leading companies ranking 50th on the New Zealand stock exchange. Cavalier Bremworth (''Cavalier'') is an important division of the Corporation, manufacturing quality woolen carpets for distribution predominantly in the New Zealand and Australian markets.

At a Glance

About

Cavalier is a name that has been synonymous with quality and style for over 40 years. The company is proud to use only the best New Zealand wools, a specification made possible through a completely integrated quality control system which ensures the maintenance of standards from the acquisition of the wool right through to the final shipment of the carpet. This commitment to quality has paid dividends for the company with 2004 marking the 3rd consecutive year of record earnings

Challenge

To build a web presence that produces real benefits to customers and dealers by automating systems and processes using the Internet.

Solution

Cavalier made the decision to implement Shado CMS Content Management System across their entire business. Firstly for their intranet, which is accessible to both Australian and New Zealand staff and secondly for their corporate site. Thirdly, and continually growing in use is their dealer extranet, a site where dealers can check stock, pricing, product and promotional information and order online.

Cavalier are currently also redeveloping their consumer site using Shado CMS.

Results

Dealer Extranet. Cavalier used Shado CMS to create a "Dealer Extranet" that would ensure dealers were equipped with the most up-to-date stock level information. The Extranet is 'linked' to the Company's internal database and can access information 24 hours a day. This enables dealers to complete real-time stock checks in front of customers creating a competitive advantage in the sales process as dealers can advise customers instantly whether their chosen carpet is currently available. If the product is not in stock the dealer can let the customer know when it is next being manufactured and negotiate a sale on this basis. Importantly the extranet also enables dealers to view the current status of all existing orders.

The latest addition to the extranet has been online ordering. This has created efficiencies and reduced costs by freeing-up Cavalier customer service staff who no longer need to manually key in orders.

"Our dealers can simply input their orders online, with the system applying some validation rules. This has enabled our customer service staff to concentrate on supplying the order rather than keying them. Their energies can now be focused on ensuring that orders are handled quickly and smoothly."
Mark McElroy, IT Manager, Cavalier Corporation

Intranet. Cavalier required an upgrade to their existing intranet site that would provide greater Content Management and overall integration with their existing legacy system. The intranet provides a range of information from phone user guides to customer service carpet care tips.

Corporate Site. Cavalier’s corporate website www.cavcorp.co.nz required upgrading. The company wanted a more flexible content management tool as corporate news and financial results needed to be managed internally. The site is now hosted on a Straker Interactive server and a local copy is kept in-house.